House Schedule

The attire for seminarians at the Pontifical North American College falls into the following categories:

INFORMAL CLERICAL: Black Roman collar with black slacks. Clerical informal is worn on class days through pranzo.
FORMAL CLERICAL: “Informal Clerical” with the addition of a black suit jacket. As a general rule, Formal Clerical attire is only worn on Sundays and special occasions. [CASSOCKS: Optional and not necessary. These are worn for some liturgical assignments and may be worn for Papal Liturgies.]
BUSINESS CASUAL: Slacks and a tucked in collared shirt. As a general rule, this can be worn after lunch and the evening, so a sufficient supply should be brought.
CASUAL: Slacks or Jeans and a tucked in collared shirt. As a general rule, this can be worn after lunch and the evening, so a sufficient supply should be brought.
RECREATIONAL: Recreational attire—shorts, T-shirts, sports attire, etc.—may be worn during free time. The frequency of visitors and guests to the seminary calls for respect for them through appropriate dress. Therefore, recreational attire is not to be worn in the public areas of the seminary building which includes the first two floors, the lobby, the refectory, the library and the chapels.

A plain white ALB is worn by acolytes (generally third year men) for the celebration of the Liturgy at the seminary. Lectors, generally first year men after January, wear formal clerical attire. New students may bring an alb with them or may purchase an alb through the College once they arrive, but this is generally not necessary until the reception of the ministry of Acolyte during second year. Seminarians provide their own amice and cincture if required by the alb.
N.B.: Larger sizes are hard to find in Rome, so you should buy these in the US since they will be expensive to ship over to Rome.

The CASSOCK may be worn for papal liturgical celebrations and events and on other specified occasions.

Students should bring some clerical clothing with them, especially for use during the orientation period (see above). Some may want to buy much of their clerical clothing here. Good clerical clothing is available at reasonable prices in Rome (often much less expensive than in the States). It is advisable, however, to buy black shoes in North America (see below). Moreover, finding time to purchase clerical clothing during the first couple of weeks may be difficult.

All types of clothing are needed in Rome. It is hot and muggy in the summers and cold, damp, and rainy in the winters. Heavier winter clothing (sweaters, raincoats, heavier jackets, etc., of any color) is appropriate here, as well as for trips north during the winter. A bathrobe and a pair of shower shoes or flip-flops is a good idea for going to and from the showers, which are at the end of the corridor. A good umbrella is also helpful, especially for winter and spring months. Cheap umbrellas are readily available from street vendors the instant it begins to rain.

It is highly recommended that students bring one or two additional pairs of shoes with them. Shoes tend to wear more quickly here because of the constant city use. Also, it is often difficult to find shoes that offer good quality and a good fit. This is particularly true for shoe sizes of 11 or greater. Shoe repair, however, is excellent and inexpensive. Leather soles tend to slip easily on wet marble or cobblestones, which are common surfaces in Rome. Students in Rome do a lot of walking, so good shoes are important. Black walking shoes (e.g. Rockports) are often worn with informal clerical, or even formal clerical dress.

Students have access to a laundry room containing washing machines, dryers, irons, and ironing boards, all of which are free of charge. The College provides detergent, fabric softener, and bleach.  At one’s own expense, a dry-cleaning company may be used that picks up and delivers clothes at the College. This service takes four days.

Rooms
Each student has his own room at the College. When deciding what to bring for one’s room, the following description may be helpful: although no two rooms have exactly the same dimensions, most rooms generally have a single window, with three feet of wall space on either side. There is a radiator under the window. Two walls, each being about 15 feet long, contain neither a door nor a window. Built into one of these walls is a closet (containing a hanging rod, a series of drawers and two cabinets). Above the closet is a storage space for suitcases. Next to the closet is a sink and a mirror. The room will contain a desk, a desk chair, a desk lamp, a bookshelf, a comfortable reading chair and a bed. Sheets, blankets, a pillow, and pillowcases are provided by the College, but towels and washcloths are not. Students may wish to bring an additional tension rod of about 27 inches to provide more hanging space in the closet. Since 220V/50 Hz electrical equipment [e.g., lamps (including light bulbs), room fans, etc.] is not generally available in North America, students are advised to purchase any additional equipment after their arrival.

A student may wish to place curtains in his window. Curtains, draperies, rods, and fixtures may be purchased here. The windows are 5.6 feet high and 5.6 feet wide. The distance from the top of the window to the floor is 8.5 feet.

Also of note is the fact that the College has a fully functioning wood shop that contains wood and power tools. Many students elect to use this resource to construct additional cabinets, shelves, and even lofts for their rooms.

Floor Plan:

Typical Room View:

Examples of some rooms:

Many have found laptop computers to be most helpful, but you are encouraged to bring extra batteries. Many desktop computers and most laptop computers are able to accept 220V/50Hz. Thus, only a plug adaptor is required. Some printers respond more delicately to the change in electricity, and, as a result, some do not function even with a transformer. You should consult the manufacturer about this question, but know also that the printers at the College are usually adequate to handle your needs (you will need to use a disk to transfer any files to the computer room and library computers). To determine whether your equipment can be used in Italy, read the section on electronics that follows. If your computer or printer handles 220V/50Hz, you may be able to obtain a European power cord from the manufacturer or to purchase a plug adapter after you arrive (bring one with you to use the computer immediately). Remember to check the voltage rating of every component of a computer system – CPU, monitor, and other peripherals. You may want to bring a US power strip to plug such components into and then plug the strip into the transformer. However, many American surge protectors require 120 volt input.  Standard size paper here in Rome is A4 (21 cm x 29.7 cm), and most computers have this option already built in.

Although we do have someone here to help with any computer problems, servicing of PCs and Macs is sometimes cumbersome and slightly more expensive than in the States. Installation of modems and Ethernet (network) cards for Internet use and other peripherals is best done before you arrive. Your orientation will include some basic instructions regarding the use of these machines.

You should bring any backup disks and software installation disks that you may have so that you can reinstall any software should the need arise.

A good summary of this section can be found here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Electrical_systems

The European electrical system is different than in the U.S. Some of your electronics may require a transformer, while other equipment may be able to operate with just a simple plug adapter.  While electrical equipment can be purchased here in Rome, it is often expensive and hard to find.  We recommend you purchase these items back in the States before you come: transformers and simple power strips (as opposed to surge protectors).  Plug adaptors can be purchased in either country, but they may be cheaper here in Rome.

DON'T PANIC!  This will all make sense:

There are two differences between the electricity of Europe (including Italy and NAC) and that of the States: voltage and cycles.

Any standard American electrical appliance (e.g., 110V, 60Hz) that is plugged directly into Italian current without a transformer will be destroyed burning out the motor and causing additional damage with intense heat. Transformers are required for these appliances to run on Italian current. However, Transformers reduce the voltage going into your machine from 220V to 110V, but they cannot change the cycles/Hz.

Power strips provide multiple outlets but no voltage reduction and work with both 220V and 110V.

Surge protectors often look like power strips, but have voltage protection.  However, these often require 110V input. 

Plug adapters simply convert between the oddly shaped Italian plugs and the standard U.S. plug.

Your electronics will indicate their voltage and cycles requirements either on the equipment itself or in the user manual. If you don't have the user manual, you may be able to find the information on the manufacturer's website.  The following is a typical example of the type of information that can be found on the back of computer speakers:

LEI
Class 2 Power Supply
Model NO. 109234490T
Input: 110-120V AC 60Hz. 14W
Output:12VDC 0.5A

Volts: While the standard voltage in North America is 110V, many electric devices alter that slightly. It may list figures from 100-130V. This variation will not interfere with the operation of a transformer, and it will get adequate voltage. The result is that the machine will work with a transformer. If this is listed as 120 / 220 Volts, a transformer would not be needed, just a plug converter provided the equipment can handle 50 Hz (50/60Hz).

Cycles: The indicated cycle range of 50/60Hz means that equipment will function in Rome with a transformer (most computers are usually set up within this cycle range). The motor is able to adapt itself to either 50 or 60 cycles. If the equipment only takes 60 cycles, it may not work properly, even with a transformer. Motors (e.g. for a tape deck) will run approximately 20% slower if not built to adjust to 50 cycles. 

A note on Clocks: Standard 60 Hz North American (non-digital) clocks will not keep correct time here, even with a transformer, losing several hours a day. Therefore, students should bring a battery alarm clock or buy an electrical one here.

Many pieces of electrical equipment made in the last five years, especially the better quality and more expensive models, can adapt to European electrical current, but one should check to be sure. (This includes most computers, digital cameras, PDA's, and some electric razors.) Smaller appliances, such as hair dryers and electric shavers/razors, generally function properly with the use of small converters. These converters not only enable one to plug in a North American pronged appliance into the Italian-style outlet but also convert the Italian volts to the standard North American voltage. They may usually be found in a local department store near the luggage department. One should purchase a small transformer or plug-adapter (if applicable) for electric razors and very small appliances or computers designed for 220 volts.

Plug Adapters: As has already been mentioned, many newer electrical appliances will work on American and European electrical systems. If it says something similar to the following, then it will work on both continents:

INPUT: 100-240V ~ 50-60 Hz
or
INPUT: 120V/240V ~50/60Hz.

NB: these devices will still require a plug adapter to convert from an American plug to a European plug. American uses a Type A plug (which looks like two vertical slots) whereas Europe uses a Type C plug (which looks like two round holes 4 or 5 mm in diameter) Many travel stores and electronics stores such as Radio Shack sell these plug adaptors.

The NAC has a variety of sports facilities and equipment. 
Facilities include some of the following:

A large sports field used for soccer, football, softball and various other sports.	3 tennis courts	A full size outdoor basketball court

The college supplies the following equipment:
· Soccer balls, basketballs, baseballs and softballs, footballs, and bacci balls.
· Uniforms for sports games with other seminaries and colleges.
· baseball/softball gloves
· Other assorted equipment

Things we recommend you bring:
· cleats and shin guards
· tennis rackets
· basketball shoes
· any other equipment that is custom to your needs.
Note: certain things, such as tennis balls, can be purchased here.

The recently completed gym here at the NAC is used quite regularly by a number of seminarians.   Equipment in the room includes free weights, universal machines, “stair master” machines, treadmills, a Nordic Trac, and a leg press. Bring your own music.

The college choir sings at Sunday liturgies and on feast days.  This past year the choir was also invited to sing at several Papal Masses at St. Peters.

Art
There are also a number of seminarians here interested in the visual arts.  This year a small room on the first floor has been set aside as an art room.  Art supplies are fairly easy to find here in Rome, though expensive.  We recommend that you bring any of the more expensive or essential things that are easy to pack, such as brushes. Library and Books

College Library
The College library provides the best collection of theology books in the English language to be found in Rome. It contains reference works, books available for loan, and periodicals. Most of the volumes are on theological and spiritual topics, but selections of other materials (e.g. literature, history, and philosophy) are also available. The periodical room provides a wide-ranging selection of current Catholic periodicals and theological journals, as well as general interest magazines.

Several local bookstores carry a substantial number of books in English. Most of these are academic books, particularly theological books, and can be expensive. Some students have found that ordering books in English through the on-line booksellers can be less expensive than buying the same books here.

While there are only a few books that are absolutely indispensable (Bible, Liturgy of the Hours, Missal, and Vatican II documents), there are some academic books that are needed for class-work. Near the beginning of each semester professors provide a bibliography from which students may choose to gain more understanding of the course subject. Although these books are available in the College library, many students have found it useful to have personal copies. Although they can be bought in Rome, students can probably purchase them for considerably less in North America and have them shipped with other belongings before arrival.

• Bible - The most popular translation seems to be the Jerusalem or New Jerusalem Bible. The NAB and the RSV are often also acceptable.
• The Liturgy of the Hours. The four volume set is the official one used by the College.
• The Documents of Vatican II. (Recommendation: Flannery, Vatican Council II, ISBN: 0-918344-39-5 or 1-871552-60-5)
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church – Second Edition· The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ISBN: 0-13-614934-0
• The Dictionary of Fundamental Theology, R. Latourelle & R. Fisichella, eds., St. Paul, 1994.
• A Greek New Testament
• Greek-English New Testament, Nestle-Aland, 27th Edition. ISBN: 3-438-05408-6
• The Greek New Testament, Aland. et. al., eds., 4th Edition, United Bible Societies
• Greek and English Dictionaries (also perhaps a Latin Dictionary)
• Italian Books
• English-Italian Dictionary (Possibly one for travel and one for desk)
• Italian Textbooks and/or Grammar
• Any Travel Guides desired – for Rome & various places in Europe.
• Spiritual reading.
  

Note: These books can generally be found in Rome: at our library, from a friend, or purchased in Rome (but generally at a higher price)